Repurposed Guitar into a Unique Clock

I don’t remember when I’ve been so excited to show you a project! You know I love a good repurpose, and saving stuff from the garbage. This might be one of my all-time favorites!

This clock was a curb find several months ago. I tried to do another project with it using some bead board. The bead board was too thick to allow the hands to move freely, so I put the clock parts away.

While I was out of town helping Jamie with her deck rebuild, and her benches my friend Marianne scooped this guitar out of the neighbor’s garbage for me.

I had planned to make a clock out of the guitar all along. I have always loved clocks of all kinds. I had been looking for a song book to decoupage onto this guitar. Along comes the DIY Club September party, Mod Podge! So it was time to gather all my supplies and get started.

I decided to do this project in the house due to the fact that it has been in the 90’s again.

While talking to cousin Terry and Jamie about how I was going to work on the guitar, I would refer to the “handle” and the “top part”, etc. I decided to look a picture so that I don’t offend musicians that happen to read my blog.

Because the pick guard was raised, I thought it might be difficult to decoupage, so I removed it. I also removed the saddle bridge, not knowing if I would replace it after I decoupage or not.

These kids really had abused this poor thing!

I always like to prime my projects before I decoupage in case I miss a tiny little spot. My Mod Podge is older than the hills!

As you can imagine I don’t have any “in progress” pictures due to the messiness of the project! I was not about to pick up my camera. The sheet music I used came from some Radio Shack song books. I thought they were Jamie’s but she said she doesn’t remember them, so they may have been a curb find.

I painted the neck of the guitar Crisp Linen White.

I needed something to attach the clock box to and cover up the soundhole. I had been ripping some cd’s to my computer and this little protective piece just happened to be on the coffee table. You can see it is pure brilliance! Sometimes I even amaze myself how I repurpose items!

I used a full sheet of the music. I decoupaged it, then after it dried I trimmed the excess off.

I rummaged around some of Jamie’s old things to find these guitar picks. She bought these before she even knew she was moving to Nashville.

While talking to Jamie on the phone she mentioned that maybe the guitar should have a “pop” of red. I love that I have friends and family to bounce things off of. You know, it just helps to talk through the things that don’t seem to be working. I had planned on painting the picks black, but realized I don’t have any black spray paint. (what kind of DIY’er doesn’t have black spray paint on hand) However I did have some red, so after she mentioned that, I said “great, I have red”. So, red it was! (Thanks sis for giving me all that spray paint last year)

I have some 3M products that Regina gave me. They really have come in handy. This double sticky tape is “permanent”.

I put two small pieces on the clock works to hold the clock face.

I reattached the hands. See how perfect this was for the face! Look closely at the words of the song, Only time.

I gave it a dry fit to make sure it was going to work.

Then I tested to see where I wanted to put the picks . . . on the clock face?

Or on the body of the guitar? I sent these pictures to Jamie to ask her opinion.

Because the clock face sat a little higher near the neck than it did on the body, I could afford for it to be lifted slightly. I used another 3M product I got from Regina, sticky Velcro. This way the clock face can be removed to change the battery.

To adhere the picks, I turned to the trusted Gorilla Glue. Whoa… you talk about strong QUICK hold! I needed to adjust the bottom pick but, it was too late! It was s-t-u-c-k!

voila! My newest clock, made from a trashed guitar!

The clock keeps great time!

Look at that shape! I wish I looked so good.

I painted the head black.

Because the clock is attached with velcro, this guitar clock can be displayed vertically, horizontally or even diagonally.

I accidentally broke the saddle bridge while removing it from the guitar. I used Gorilla Wood Glue to repair it.

I clamped it, now it’s good as new.

In this picture I have temporarily reattached the saddle bridge. I sort of like the fact that it breaks up the bottom of the body, but not sure if I will attach it permanently or not. I may have put it a little high? Any ideas/thoughts about that? I don’t think I should replace the pick guard, do you? Because once I attach it with Gorilla Glue, it’s NOT going anywhere!

I may keep this, if I do, I’m sure I will hang it on the wall. Won’t it look awesome hanging?

Total cost of this project? nothing, zero, nada, zilch! I had everything on hand, thanks to my wonderful family and friends!

Related Posts

ABOUT GAIL WILSON - A teacher at heart, Gail Wilson relishes the chance not to show off her projects, but to help others find their inner handywoman, step-by-step. Her blog, MyRepurposedLife.com, chronicles her scrap-saving adventures and has been featured on countless DIY magazines and websites, including Women’s Day, Design*Sponge and Apartment Therapy. She is a longtime influencer for both Homeright and Gorrilla Glue. With a tribe of more than 450,000 followers, Gail is inspiring a new generation of DIYers to pick up some tools and get to work.

Shop Amazon!

Reader Interactions

Comments

Wow this turned out very well. Here it is six years later and I am just about to start a similar project and came across your blog. Great tutuorial and inspirational. I love it that you just happen to have everything available.

What a fun idea to re-purpose your guitar! I need a new DIY project this summer. I have a few used guitars that aren’t worth what they cost to fix. Re-purposing it sounds like a fun and unique idea. Thanks for your tutorial!

And… nearly 2 years later… another comment.What a GREAT save on that guitar! To look at it now you’d never guess what the kids had done to it.

The sheet music, “Only Time” absolutely PERFECT!I love the red!I’m sure now it is way too late to weigh in on the bridge… LOL… but… I like how it balances the black of the head. I would have moved it down slightly.

Thank you for linking this up to your post at A Glimpse Inside with your Americana Flag or I may never have seen this!

This was an AMAZING idea! I currently own 8 guitars, and I think I am going to do the same thing (if you don’t mind), then hang it up on the wall between all the others in my “man cave”….right near the pool table 😉 If you have any other cool ideas, let me know!

Boy Gail, you have given me a great idea for our offices here in Nashville. I’m invisioning the huge guitars that different artists did and that were placed all around town, but on a smaller scale, with all of our different office logos and images mod podged all over it! You ARE AMAZING!

Another great idea, I think the bridge is a personal preference as it looks great either way. Seeing what you do with things as simple as the protective cd really makes me think when I throw something away, wonder what Gail would do with this?? LOL.

I am looking forward to the cooler weather coming soon to an outdoor theatre near you and me!!

this would be perfect to do for my sweet niece off in grad school near nashville. she lives and breathes music!. she does reviews for music magazines and online sites. she hopes to work in nashville at some point after she graduates.

WOW! You go girl!!!!! I can see why you were so excited about this project. I know someone who would ABSOLUTELY LOVE something like this. Her whole family plays guitar, but her oldest son is just starting to move up in country music business. I wish I could find a FREE guitar and make one of these for her!!!! YOU ROCK!!!!!! Thanks for sharing this great idea with us!!!

As if you weren’t a repurposing rock star already! This one’s going to put you in the junking Hall of Fame! It’s brilliant — and perfect! The bridge is fine where it is and I think you should leave the pick guard off. And it would look awesome hanging on a wall. Love it!Midge

I would think by this time I would be use to your amazing projects and would be able to control my facial expressions upon seeing your posts; yet my jaw continues to drop to the ground. This is so fabulous! What a wonderful creation! It’s perfect, Gail!

Gail…you totally rocked this project!(and yes, there was a pun intended! lol) 🙂I love it..love the red, love he pics, love the saddle bridge you put back on..all of it! I like it on top of your corner piece too..the black goes with it, but it would look cool hanging too. That cd thing was the perfect clock face…I would have been amazed at my own repurposing on that one too! 🙂Can’t wait for this weekend…have you seen the temps?! woo hoo…upper 70’s! I feel some outdoor time coming on!Big HUGSMissy

Love it! I think red was a much better choice than black for the clock face. Black would be difficult to see. We used to have a very pretty homemade clock, but the hands were nearly invisible from more than 6 feet away, and it was REALLY annoying. That won’t be a problem with this clock!

Primary Sidebar

Hi, there! I’m Gail Wilson, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally! Read More

Search For A Project Here

Tips for Dismantling Pallets

Headboard Bench Tutorial

Footer

Rep. Furniture

Build It!

Repurposed Items

Copyright

All content on this site is the intellectual property of My Repurposed Life, not to be copied without my written consent. If you would like to feature a project, please clearly link to My Repurposed Life, not using more than two photographs.

Legal Disclaimer

By accessing this site you agree to the following: The information provided on this site is of a general nature and may not be applicable to your particular circumstances. Please seek the assistance of a professional if you have any queries before undertaking your DIY task.

The owner of this site cannot be held liable for damage, by following the instructions laid out within this site or on any of the sites linked to this site.

My Repurposed Life is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com